Corporate thanks = better service.

At The Grove,  Gloria G., Gloria S., and I wanted a bite to eat before we shopped for Gloria G’s nephew Jeffrey’s birthday gift.  We debated location.  Gloria G. craved a barbeque beef sandwich but it was so balmy, I worried about finding a table in the crowded Farmers’ Market, — and I secretly worried about having either of my 80+-year Glorias get overheated.

“Cheesecake Factory has A/C,” I promoted.  Gloria gave one last argument in favor of beef but Cheesecake it was.  We go there for our birthdays and I’ve written several letters to Corporate over the years praising our waiters.

“16 – 33, 16-  33”, Gloria G. repeated as we waited for our table.  We joked it would have been easier for her to write it down.  As we were being led to our table, David — our favorite waiter who always sings to us on birthdays —  saw us.

“Birthday?” he asked.  “Isn’t the next one in February?”

I was amazed.  Gloria G.’s birthday is next month, but with all the people he meets day in and day out — how could he remember?  (We DO bring gold-wrapped Werther’s caramels & Hershey’s chocolate Kisses which we sprinkle all over the table and give to the servers, so we are fairly memorable in that right.)

David was smitten.  He rushed over to our table as we were still studying our menus.  He kissed Gloria S.’s hand, then reached for Gloria G’s.   The girls smiled, as happy as high schoolers at the Spring Dance.

“Erica,” he remembered, reaching for my hand.

He was as impeccable as any European diplomat.

“I’m not your waiter, but ask for me next time,” he implored.

As he disappeared , we tried to remember his name.  James?  Dan?  It was embarrassing, because he clearly remembered ours.  We hailed another server for the answer.

“David,” I said after hearing it again, “David. That’s right.  Stop with your shirt measurement for a second, Gloria we’ve got to remember this.”

We played memory games —  to challenge each other on how we could fix him in our heads.

“David and Goliath” was our favorite.  I cheated and wrote it in “Contacts” under “Cheesecake at the Grove” on my phone.

Before David took his break, he came over to say goodbye.  We remarked on the silver & gold pins on his lapel.

“Five years,” he said proudly, pointing to one.  There were several others for outstanding achievements.

As he left — after reminding us, “Next time, ask them to seat you in David’s section,” — we remembered I’d written Corporate.

After we paid, I tucked two five dollar bills in my hand, thinking if we saw him before we left, I’d give him an extra ‘thanks’ … but we didn’t see him again, and I decided another letter to Corporate might be in order.  Clearly it had more staying power than just a tip.

The moral of today’s story:  If you ever want fantastic service — bring candy.  Have two best friends with the same name.  And praise your server to Corporate.

(Below is a “Thank You” Gloria #1 sent after another of our lunches at Cheesecake this Fall.)

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